Automatic slate-picker.



H. E. FLAIL & W. R. MILLER.

AUTOMATIC SLATE PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2 19.]5- 1,178,390. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

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mwwtozo THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. n. c.

H. E. FLAIL & W. R; MILLER.

AUTOMATIC SLATE PICKER.

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THB COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH 6b., WASHINGTON. D. c.

HOWARD E. FLAIL AND WILLIAM R. MILLER, OF PARK PLACE, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC SLATE-PIGKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916..

Application filed. September 2, 1915. Serial N 0. 48,690.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HOWARD E. F LAIL and WVILLIAM R. MILLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Park Place, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Slate- Pickers; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in automatic slate pickers used in the separation of coal and slate, and it is the object of this invention to take all of the flat slate and rock out of the coal before it reaches the jigs, thereby giving the jig only the work of taking the bulkier slate and rock out.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be very efficient in operation.

lVith these andnumerous other objects in view, our invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be herein re ferred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of this invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a portion of, and one end of the automatic picker, and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing the metal slats. and a portion of one end of the picker and the fastening means positioned from each other.

, In describing our invention we shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in whichthe numeral 1 designates broadly the ordinary type of coal chute, through which the coal is carried directly after the same is mined, to the devices by which it is separated. This coal chuteis shown as being broken and spaced apart intermediate its ends, the inlet end of the same being designated by the numeral 2, and the outlet by the numeral 3. Interposed between these two posed side boards 12 broken portions of the chute 1 is a rock and slate receiving hopper which is designated by the numeral 4. This hopper 4 may be of any preferred formation or shapewhich is best adapted to be constructed in accordance with the type of chute upon which this improvement is used. The inlet 2 of the coal chute projects a short distance into the upper end of the hopper while the outlet 3 is positioned in the opposite end of the same. This hopper 4 is so constructed that it will not interfere with the incline upon which the chute 1 is positioned.

Supported on the hopper 4 is a pair of parallel longitudinally extending beams or supporting members 5 which have projecting upwardly therefrom four vertical uprights 6. These vertical uprights have secured to the upper end of the same a rectangular frame 7 which is supported and spaced from the top of the hopper 4 by this means. This frame 7 is constructed in the type shown in the accompanying drawings as comprising a pair of parallel side bars which are connected with the upper ends of the uprights, and a pair of transversely extending end bars which are designated by the numeral 8, these end bars 8 having extending therethrough and depending there from, hangers which, in this instance, comprise bolts 9. These bolts 9 have their lower ends pivotally connected with the upper ends of links 10 and 11 which are positioned adjacent the inlet and outlet portions of the chute above the hopper 4. The links 11 are much shorter than the links 10 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The automatic picking screen of this device consists of two parallel vertically disand 13, which have in their inner surfaces a plurality of inclined upwardly extending slots 14. These slots 14 extend a short distance into the said boards, and project upwardly from the bottom edge of the same the required distance necessary for the'purposes of the same. Po-

sitioned between the side boards 12 and 13 of the chute 1. The purpose of this positioning of the said slats is so that when the coal, slate, and rock is discharged through the inlet 2 from the chute 1, the same will strike upon the flat surfaces of the slats and owing to the position in which this picker is held, will be carried on downward in the same direction. The metal slats 15 are held securely and firmly into the position above described in the slots 14: by means of longitudinally extending metal strips 16 which extend the entire length and width of the bottom edge of the side boards 12 and 13 and close the lower ends of said slots 1 1 to form sockets for the aforesaid slats. The metal strips 16 are fastened securely by means of any desired fastening means which project through apertures 17 in said strips. By this form of fastening means, the slats 15 are easily removed if bent or broken, and may be replaced by new ones. This forms a very eflicient and readily detachable fastening means for the same.

Projecting from the lower end of the automatic picking screen, that is the end adjacent the outlet portion 3 of the chute 1, is a discharge chute 18 which has upturned sides secured to the ends of the side boards as shown at 19. This chute is adapted to extend outwardly above the outlet 3, so that the coal discharged from the picker will be sure of being directed to the said outlet. Adjacent the opposite end of the picker is disposed a transversely extending one-piece rigid bar 20 having parallel downwardly bent ends constituting arms 21 which are rigidly secured to the inner surfaces of the side boards 12 and 13. This bar 20 is positioned above the side boards of the picker, and the arms depending therefrom are dis posed at an angle to the boards 12 and 13 for the purpose of bracing the latter when this device is operated. It is to be observed that by securing the chute 18 to the lower end of the side boards 12 and 13 in the manner specified, no other means is necessary to keep this end'of said boards from spreading, this chute therefore performing a two-fold function. Similarly, by providing the bar 20 with the arms 21 and securing the latter to the other end of said boards, this end of the latter is prevented from spreading, the bar 20, however, also constituting means for the attachment of the pitman 26.

Extending upwardly from the opposite sides at the ends of the side boards 12 and 13 of the automatic picker are vertical connecting strips 28 which project a short distance above the upper edge of the said boards, and have their upper ends apertured as shown at 29. The upper ends of the said connecting strips are pivotally connected with the lower ends of the links 10 and 11 which are connected with the hangers 9 supported by the frame 7. By this arrangement, owing to the different lengths of the links, the automatic picker will be supported, so that the same may swing longitudinally with respect to the frame 7, in the hopper 4, with one end disposed below the inlet 2 of the chute l, and the other, from which the lip 18 projects, disposed above the outlet 3 of said chute.

' Secured to the parallel supporting members 5 on the top of the hopper 4, and disposed adjacent the lower end of the sup porting frame 7, in suitable bearings, is a transversely extending rotatable shaft 23 which is adapted to be driven by some outside means connected with a pulley 24 secured to one end of the shaft. Disposed intermediate the ends of the shaft between the parallel supports 5, is an ordinary type of cam which is designated by the numeral 25. This cam has projecting forwardly therefrom a connecting link or pitman 26 which extends forwardly above the automatic picking screen, and is secured to the transversely extending bar 20 of the same. This connecting link 26 has a loose engagement with the bar 20 as designated by the numeral 27 so that the same may rock thereon when this device is operated.

In operation, when the parts of this device are assembled as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the coal to be separated is carried down the chute 1 until it strikes the outlet 2, whereby it will be run out upon the slats which form the bottom of the automatic picker. This automatic picker is adapted to be oscillated when in operation by means of the rotation of the shaft 23, which will operate the cam 25 and through the connecting link 26, oscillate or swing the said picker, owing to the fact that the same is so connected or supported by the frame 7 which is adapted to swing longitudinally with respect to the frame. This will cause a shaking movement of the said picker so that the coal and slate that passes thereover will be thoroughly agitated, and any fiat pieces of rock or slate contained therein will be discharged through the openings formed between thespaced slats 15. The oscillating picker is slightly inclined to correspond with the inclination of the chute 1 so that the coal will be carried thereover and discharge again into the chute at the outlet 3. Any flat pieces of slate or rock which are discharged through the bottom of the picker by the said movement, will be gathered in the bottom of the discharge hopper 4:. This forms a very efficient means for separating the flat pieces of slate and rock from coal before the same is passed onto the jiggers. Coal which is mined at the present time contains a great deal more refuse now than it did in former years, and in some instances it is of a very flat nature, the larger percentage of the flat material being slate and rock. By feeding coal of this character directly after it is mined to the ordinary type of jigger, it was found that it is impossible to properly separate the slate from the coal, and it is to meet these requirements that this device is especially adapted to be used. This picker is placed in the chute which feeds the coal to the jiggers, and before the coal is so fed, it is run over our improved picker, and owing to the construction and operation of the same, all small pieces of slate and rock will be separated and easily removed therefrom. This operation will not in any way interfere with the feeding of the coal, and our improved form of picker may be easily and simply applied to any form of chute which is used to carry the coal.

Our improved method of securing the inclined transversely extending metal slats 15 which form the bottom of the picker in position is a very eflicient, simple, and easily constructed means .for carrying out the aforesaid function. By employing the metal strips secured to the bottom edge of the side bars, the metal slats 15 are rendered easily accessible any time it is necessary to remove or replace the same.

From the foregoing description of our improved slate picker, the manner of applying the same to use, and the operation thereof will be readily understood, and it will be seen that we have provided a simple, inexpensive, and efficient means for carrying out the objects of the invention.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the We claim:

A machine of the class described comprising a pair of spaced parallel inclined side boards standing on edge and having sockets in their inner faces at the lower edges thereof, a plurality of transverse slats having their ends inserted in said sockets and forming with the side boards a screening trough, a discharge chute at the lower end of said screening trough and consisting of an inclined bottom disposed in the plane of the slats and rigid sides extending upwardly from said bottom, said sides being secured to the lower ends of the side boards, whereby spreading of the last named ends is prevented, means supporting the aforesaid screening trough for reciprocation, a pitman rod for reciprocating said screening trough, and a rigid transverse bar adjacent the upper end of said screening trough and having downwardly bent ends secured to the upper ends of the aforesaid side boards whereby to prevent spreading of said last named ends and brace said boards, said bar also serving as means for attaching the aforesaid pitman to the screening trough.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOWARD E. FLAIL. WILLIAM R. MILLER.

Witnesses:

JOHN GoYNE, MICHAEL J. RYAN.

Commissioner or Patentsv Washington, D. C. 

